Discover one of mankind’s greatest masterpieces and visit the Pont du Gard museum, a true regional landmark!
Located in the Gard department, between Nîmes and Uzès, the Pont du Gard is France’s most visited ancient monument! And not by chance. Classified by Unesco, this historic marvel is not only sublime, it’s also a veritable feat of engineering.
To find out more about this work of genius, don’t hesitate to visit the Pont du Gard museum, located just a few metres from the building. Visual and sound games, films, models… A visit to the Pont du Gard museum will take you back in time.
Interested in a ticket for the Pont du Gard museum? Advice, prices, opening hours… In this article, you’ll find all the information you need to make the most of your visit.
History of the Pont du Gard Museum
Photo credit: Facebook – Site du PONT DU GARD
In the 1990s, the Pont du Gard was under threat from the ever-increasing influx of tourists. In order to preserve the monument, and as part of the « Grand site national » operation, the decision was taken to develop the site around the monument.
The site is to be made accessible only to pedestrians, and visitor facilities are to be improved. The aim is also to restore the landscape, which has been damaged by mass tourism over the years.
The project was entrusted to architect Jean-Paul Viguier. His mission: to develop the site with buildings embedded in the rock and invisible from the monument.
Work began in 1996 and was completed in 2000, to make way for France’s largest Romanesque interpretation center: the Pont du Gard Museum.
Our advice for your visit to the Pont du Gard museum
The best time to visit the Pont du Gard museum
The Pont du Gard attracts millions of tourists every year. To avoid overcrowding, it’s best to visit the Pont du Gard museum on weekdays. Mornings are also preferable to afternoons, both for the crowds and the heat, especially in summer.
Length of visit
You should allow a good hour to visit the Pont du Gard museum. Of course, you can also spend half a day there, to take your time and watch a documentary film, for example.
Last but not least, it’s best to plan a full-day visit to the entire site and all its facilities, including a picnic on the banks of the Gardon river.
Pont du Gard Tour » application
The Pont du Gard interactive application has been created to facilitate and enrich your visit. In fact, the Pont du Gard site has some thirty beacons on points of interest to discover. When you pass close to a beacon, you’ll receive a notification on your phone to draw your attention to a must-see part of your visit.
The application is free, and can be downloaded from Google Play and Apple Store.
Practical information
- Vacation vouchers are accepted at the ticket office;
- A snack bar and a bistro « Les Petites Terrasses » offer fast food;
- Public toilets are available on both banks;
- The museum, pathways, buildings and activities are accessible to people with reduced mobility;
- Pets are not allowed in the museum.
What to do when you visit the Pont du Gard museum?
Photo credit: Facebook – Site du PONT DU GARD
With your ticket for the Pont du Gard museum in your pocket, you’re ready for a visit. But what kind of visit? The Pont du Gard museum offers a whole itinerary, during which you can learn more about :
- gallo-roman civilization ;
- construction of the aqueduct ;
- the history of the Pont du Gard through the centuries.
Of course, water is at the heart of the entire interpretation area, and serves as the main thread running through the visit.
The tour is enhanced by models and full-scale reconstructions to give you an idea of the genius of its builders. There are also multimedia screens showing documentaries, a giant illuminated map, and sound, visual and theatrical games. The aim? To give you a truly immersive experience at the heart of antiquity.
Once your visit is over, don’t miss the other areas included in your ticket for the Pont du Gard museum:
- L’espace Ludo: a playful space for educational activities for 5-12 year-olds;
- Le ciné: a cinema showing documentaries and fiction about the Pont du Gard ;
- Les Mémoires de Garrigue: a 1.4 km discovery loop to learn about the history of the Mediterranean landscape, its flora and fauna, and its Roman remains;
- Permanent exhibition: on the forecourt of the Left Bank building, an exhibition on World Heritage and the Grands Sites de France is on display all year round;
- Temporary exhibitions: every year, a dedicated 600 m² space hosts a scientific, historical or artistic exhibition on the theme of water, man and stone.
How much does a ticket to the Pont du Gard museum cost?
Photo credit: Facebook – Site du PONT DU GARD
When you buy a ticket for the Pont du Gard museum, it includes access to the entire site (Pont du Gard and museum areas), including parking.
Ticket for the discovery area of the Pont du Gard site :
- Adults: €6.50 ;
- Reduced tickets (students, large families, jobseekers and RSA beneficiaries), disabled people: €5;
- Free for children under 18;
Ticket for the guided tour of the Pont du Gard, with access to the third floor:
- Adults: €15;
- Reduced tickets (students, large families, jobseekers and RSA beneficiaries), disabled persons: €13;
- Free for children under 18;
You can also opt for the Pont du Gard Pass. For €15, this annual pass gives you unlimited access to the site and its exhibitions for 1 year. It also entitles you to reduced rates for all paying events and shows organized by the Pont du Gard.
How do I book a ticket for the Pont du Gard museum online?
Photo credit: Facebook – Site du PONT DU GARD
Tickets for the Pont du Gard museum can be purchased on the official Pont du Gard website. If you book online, you’ll receive a €1 discount.
You can also choose to use a booking platform specialized in tours and activities. This solution can enable you to take advantage of a line cutter, a guide, or even combine several tours.
Are there guided tours of the Pont du Gard museum?
If you’re going to visit the Pont du Gard museum, you can take a guided tour for an extra €6. The guided tour lasts 1h30 and includes a guided tour of the museum, the monument and the Roman canal.
Are there combined tours with other monuments in the Gard?
Specialized operators
Combined tickets for the Pont du Gard and other sites in the region are available from a number of tourist operators.
For example:
- Excursions to Nîmes, Uzès and the Pont du Gard ;
- Visits to Roman sites ;
- Discover the Pont du Gard and Provence (Avignon, Arles, les Baux de Provence etc.).
The Romanité Tour
For €24, the Romanité Tour is a ticket that combines the main Roman sites in the Gard, namely :
- Les Arènes de Nîmes;
- La Maison Carrée;
- La Tour Magne ;
- Musée de la Romanité ;
- The Pont du Gard.
Nîmes City Pass
The Nîmes City Pass is an excellent choice if you decide to visit the sublime city of Nîmes, as well as the Pont du Gard.
With it, you’ll have access to many of the city’s places of interest. It can be purchased for 2, 4 or 7 days.
Onlythe 4-day pass includes access to the Pont du Gard.
Other sites included in the pass:
- The Museum of Bullfighting Cultures ;
- La Maison Carrée;
- Le Musée de la Romanité ;
- La Tour Magne ;
- Museum of Fine Arts ;
- Le Carré d’Art ;
- Les Arènes de Nîmes;
- A guided tour of Nîmes or a ride on the little train;
- The Museum of Old Nîmes ;
- The Museum of Natural History.
Prices are €29. 50 for the 4-day pass and €27.50 for the 7-day pass, making the latter a much more attractive option!
Opening hours
Pont du Gard opening times vary according to the season:
- For the months of January, November and December: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ;
- February: 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ;
- March, September, October: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ;
- Between April and May: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. ;
- June: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends;
- July and August: 9am to 8pm.
The museum is closed every Monday morning for maintenance. It opens at 12pm, and the temporary exhibition at 2pm. The ticket office closes 30 minutes before closing time.
How do I get to the Pont du Gard museum?
By car
If you’re coming from Paris, you’ll need to take the A6 and then the A7 freeways. Your journey will take around 7 hours.
From the south, take the A9 freeway, then exit 23 Remoulins (RN100), then follow the signs for Uzès (D81), then the rive droite or rive gauche signs.
By train
The Pont du Gard Museum is close to the following train stations:
- Nîmes-Pont du Gard train station (in Manduel): 25 km from the Pont du Gard ;
- Nîmes Centre train station: 27 km ;
- Avignon Centre train station: 27 km ;
- Avignon TGV station: 30 km.
To reach your destination, you’ll need to book a cab or hire a car.
By bus
There are local lines that take you right to the foot of the Pont du Gard Museum.
- From Avignon: Line 115 ;
- From Nîmes Centre : Line 121 ;
- From Manduel TGV station: line 126.
Where can I park near the Pont du Gard museum?
Your ticket for the Pont du Gard museum includes a parking space in one of the 2 secure parking lots on the Pont du Gard site. These are reserved exclusively for customers of the cultural spaces, including the museum, and are open during the site’s opening hours.
Where to stay near the Pont du Gard museum?
The Pont du Gard region is simply magnificent, as are the small villages that make it up. If you decide to visit the Pont du Gard museum, it’s a great place to stay. Vers-Pont-du-Gard, Remoulins, Collias, or the unmissable town of Uzès, are just some of the surrounding villages to discover without hesitation. To find the solution that’s right for you, use a hotel comparator.
There are a number of charming small hotels in the area, as well as an excellent range of Airbnb apartments. But the must is without a doubt the gîtes and guest houses, with their unmistakable charm and warm welcome.
Don’t wait any longer, get your ticket for the Pont du Gard museum and discover this marvel!